Stream the Menzingers’ Crisp, Boisterous ‘Rented World’ Album

Philly quartet's latest pop-punk offering hits shelves on April 22

The Menzingers have a simple philosophy when it comes to album openers: Keep ‘em blunt and declarative. “Good Things,”the first track from 2012’s On The Impossible Past, kicked off with singer-guitarist Greg Barnett declaring in a subdued baritone, “I’ve been having a horrible time.” The pop-punks’ latest effort, Rented World (due out April 22 via Epitaph Records), starts off equally forthright. After a brisk verse of sprinkler high hats and palm-muted guitars, the band cuts out to allow Barnett to plainly and simply admit: “I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore.”

This time around, the Menzingers have enlisted the services of engineer Jonathan Low (known for his work with Kurt Vile and the National) and returned with a sleek, concise record that’s unafraid to ratchet down the gain or crank up the emotion. On the many occasions when Barnett and fellow singer-guitarist Tom May spill their guts, the lyrical viscera comes in buckets. Honest, vulnerable declarations such as “All your friends are dead and gone” and “I never loved you anyway,” pour out of them with impunity.

In support of Rented World, the Menzingers will be joining Lemuria, Pup, and Cayetana on a lengthy excursion across the U.S. Find dates below, but first, stream Rented World in its entirety. Pre-orders of the effort are now available online.